A Special Thank You to Lara Olson Boswell

A while back I read an outstanding book called This Is The Moment by Walter Green and it held such a profound message tucked between the pages that I thought I'd take a moment to share something with all my readers. Too often we live out our last days with a feeling of regret, for moments we wished we had but are now too short to fulfill or that thank you we were meaning to share with a special someone has long since passed and one of you is no longer around. So I thought I would take time on my blog to acknowledge those special people from time to time. This is my legacy, if you will, of those special people I will highlight and share what impact their time with me has had.

I met Lara back when AT&T hadn't really become to corporate giant it is today. When customer care still held some meaning and significance; where you actually got service when you called in. Back in those days we had local call centers for the customer service calls spread around the United States. But buyouts and mergers being what they are, those were the good old days now remembered.

Lara Olson was a Customer Care Supervisor, which meant she was responsible for monitoring a team of representatives whose job it was to take your service related calls. Lara was quiet for the most part, not those loud, obnoxious bosses whose job it was to stay so focused on numbers and stats that you hated to come to work. Yet she was efficient in a gentle way. She responded to her representatives in a positive way, much like a mom would to her children who did outstanding work, she would be your biggest cheerleader and small moments of victory became giant milestones in the hearts of those representatives. I think every single member of her team grew in stature because of her kindness and loving attitude.

She was not the helicopter boss either, you know the kind I mean. The one's who standing around micro-managing every aspect of your work and making sure you colored within the lines. Lara was a creative, color outside the box type of person. The one you would never feel worried about if things didn't go well during some aspect of your job. She was a true coach and leader and NEVER failed to step up when the job or a representative needed help. She NEVER denied the opportunity for a customer to speak with a customer as most often did.

I never heard one bad thing ever mentioned about Lara's work performance or her as an individual, in fact quite the opposite. I believe she had one of the most loyal teams in Customer Care because she was so well liked by her team. If there was an issue, it wasn't due in part to Lara, but by someone who had pushed the bar too far to see how high it would go. As a Customer Care Trainer, it would be inevitable that we would work together, but never would I imagine I would have an amazing friendship with her and her beautiful family that lasted longer than our jobs did.

She became for me, one of those people you could talk to about anything. Since she had no door on her cubicle, it was always open!! :D We spent so many hours talking in her cubicle about everything under the sun and some days it was the only way to get through our work day and leave somewhat intact. In Lara, I found an ally! I found out what true friendship looked like.

To this day, Lara's personality is always positive even when deep down inside, she may be having the worst day of her life, you would never know it. She hides it quite well from most people, but those who really know her can see it. She is the spirit of calm that I so often lack at times. She is a great mom, to her daughter Keira, almost going on 5 soon! Now she is my favorite person to share taking vacations and trips to Disneyland with along with your amazing family! In all that time, she has never known except for the occasional phone calls, texts or emails, what she means to me in my life. I look up to her. She is my hero in so many ways, but most of all because I have the honor of sharing the title of friend and family with her.

We may not be blood-related by birth, but there is NOTHING I wouldn't do for this remarkable lady. If you find yourself lucky to have her in your life, or to be able to call her a friend or family, than you are truly rich beyond measure. You have found what most people lack in life by being able to share her friendship. To this, I say Thank YOU, Lara for being one of the most amazing lady's God had the opportunity to bring into my life. Thank you for sharing your friendship and family with me. You are a gift I will never take for granted and just wanted to take this opportunity to share this moment with you and let you know what you being in my life has meant for me.

(OK, now if you're reading this Lara, which I know you will, or someone will share it with you, you can stop crying NOW! I love you that much and wanted to tell you!)

The Perfect Moment

Too often all we tend to focus on are the negative things in our days. You may not think about it like it sounds but see if any of these things sound a bell in your head. Do you focus on all the things that didn't get done today? The traffic in front of you? Do you slow down and check out the accident that delayed you? The price of gas has gone up again? The cost of your grocery bill just got higher this trip? Another irritating sales call? You're computer is taking too long to load your page? The check you wanted to be in the mail is late? You just got bad news? Laid off? Unexpected health issue? Fighting with a family member? Wanting a bit of good news that isn't coming?

See where I am going with this?

When it the last time you noticed when everything was perfect?

The last time that you got to that appointment on time, with maybe room to spare; got that parking spot right in front that no one else noticed?; what about an unexpected visit from a friend or neighbor that cheered you up at that perfect time you needed it; got an raise when you least expected it; got a free minute to yourself; captured that perfect picture; the house is cleaned for once; the smile on a babies face; a fabulous sunset or sunrise?

There are so many perfect moments in our days that slip past us because we have become so trained on looking at what isn't going right so we can fix it. Today, and only today, I want your focus to change. To focus on the perfect moments in your day, your hour, your minutes. Because believe it or not, once they have moved into tomorrow, we missed seeing them.

I challenge you today to see things differently; to pray a prayer with me that God will shift your focus and perception and when you catch yourself wanting to complain about something, your smile turns into a frown, or you are tempted to yell today, remind yourself that you need to look for the perfect. To see happiness in spite of that mess; to see love where you are focused on rushing through the day; to see beauty right in front of you today, instead of walking past. Take time. Take just 5 minutes to look around you and tell me what is perfect in your life today.

Then take 5 minutes or more every single day and challenge yourself to find those perfect moments that make memories worthwhile! Perhaps along this journey you will find joy, hope, happiness, laughter, peace and love again. I'd love to hear your thoughts if you'd be so kind to share them with me.

Dear Lord,

Help me today to find those moments, You are dying to share with me. Those moments so rare like treasure, that show me how great this life can be if I am willing to see it as You do. Help me to view things around me differently. Open my eyes to see them. Help me to not see the imperfections but the moments in my life I am too busy to see. Help me find more of them in my day. I ask these things in Your Perfect Name, Amen!

The Meaning Behind Memorial Day

Memorial Day is more than just a holiday to celebrate a day off from work, to gather with friends and family to enjoy a great picnic or bar-b-que, watch a parade or to raise a flag in memory of those who served in the war. I found some amazing facts regarding this historical day and wanted to share it with you.

The custom of honoring ancestors by cleaning cemeteries and decorating graves is an ancient and worldwide tradition, but the specific origin of Memorial Day, or Decoration Day as it was first known, are unclear.

In early rural America, this duty was usually performed in late summer and was an occasion for family reunions and picnics. After the Civil War, America's need for a secular, patriotic ceremony to honor its military dead became prominent, as monuments to fallen soldiers were erected and dedicated, and ceremonies centering on the decoration of soldiers' graves were held in towns and cities throughout the nation.

No less than 25 places have been named in connection with the origin of Memorial Day, and for many years, states observed the holiday on different dates. By federal law, however, Memorial Day is now celebrated on the last Monday in May.

Since World War I, poppies have been a symbol of remembrance on Memorial Day, honoring those who died in service to their countries. Red poppies are also a symbol of consolation.

The idea started in 1918 when American Moina Michael read the poem “In Flanders Fields,” written by Canadian John McCrae in 1915 during World War I. She began wearing and selling poppies to support veterans. Today, donations to veterans’ groups are often marked with a token paper red poppy.

Traditional observances at Memorial Day have diminished over the years. This day is for honoring those who have fallen in service (not all who have died). In honor, we raise the flag.

Let us not forget those who have died today as a way of remembering what the true price of freedom is. It's found in the cemetery's of those who have past away. It is in the lost abandoned fields of the grounds in which they have fallen, it's in the hospitals and hospice facilities where many are still recovering from the war, and in the hearts of those that still live and breath that came home because of something someone did to ensure that they would return home; most of all let us not forget those Missing In Action that have never returned home and have been denied their most basic right to freedom. As you can see, freedom does have its cost and it's worth remembering not just today but every single day.

As a honor to service men and women all over the world, whenever you see them, stop and say a simple thank you. It truly does mean so much to them. They are a true heroes and forever will be.

Thank you for all of you that have served this great country of ours for the freedom we still enjoy!

What do you see, really?

You've heard the sayings virtually everywhere, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, objects in the mirror are closer than they appear and even appearances aren't everything. Then why is it when we view things through our own eyes do we see things differently? Take for example many times, our own lying eyes. Each time we look at ourselves, what do we really see?

More times than not, we see flaws, imperfections, irregularities and every little thing wrong with us. Why don't we see what others see? Are we too judgmental on ourselves? Is our vision flawed? How can we change what we view?

Perhaps most of those questions very easily will be answered when we arrive in our eternal destination, the home we were meant to have, heaven, if you are a believer in Jesus Christ. When sin entered this world through disobedience to God, our visions were forever altered. We had a profound difference of what was wrong with things, why certain things aren't good enough, and why we will never ever be truly content.

I often wonder what does God see when looking at us, when we are viewing ourselves in our mirrors? Does He see things are they truly are or does He see what the world sees? Why can't we then, learn to ask God through prayer to see things through His eyes? To stop judging what we can't see and accept things the way they are in love through God's eyes. This is my new prayer and I am hoping it will change a lot of things. I am praying it will change my heart and keep me from judging people based on what I see instead of what I know. I am praying it will lead me to look on people in unconditional love instead of what I perceive to be the truth.

I am praying that many others will have the scales removed from their eyes and we will begin to see this world for what it truly is, God's creation and so is everything in it. Let's put aside our differences and bind the enemy who would see to show us other views than the one God would like us to see. We need to remove the blinders that most of us have willingly let this world put on us, and start seeing the hurting, the needy, the hopeless, and give them help, provide for their needs and restore their hope. That's what it means to be a follower of Christ.

For some people no matter what you say will not make a difference to them until they can SEE things for themselves and for some, we may be the only version of the Bible that they will ever know. Let's make sure the message is perfectly clear. (Oh, and by the way, the picture on the top is sand, magnified 250 times, interesting what really is in what we think we see!)

Yard Sale or Garage Sale Items?

It's early in the morning. The sun is on the move to rise above the eastern sky and head west and the breeze is still cool. One of my favorite times of the day when things are still quiet. Peace still exists.

Then you begin your quest. You make sure you have an adequate amount of small bills and head out, looking for the signs you are bound to find on street corners, whether taped to poles or propped up in cardboard boxes, but they all point to one thing. Yard Sales or Garage Sales.

Whether you have one of your own for the purpose of clearing out space in your home, garage or yard or simply on the hunt for something you need, a bargain awaits. It seems like lately however, yard sales or garage sales are everywhere. Before you use to find them only on Saturday or Sunday mornings, but now they begin as early as Thursdays now. In some cases they run the entire week.

With the latest additions of reality shows like the Antique Road Show and now Pawn Stars, American Pickers, and Auction Kings, everyone is looking for a deal. Lately your junk is someone's else's treasure. Whether it's in search of some long lost childhood memory or fulfilling a need you have, these sales are now going full force.

I've even had the pleasure to share with some bloggers who have captured their latest finds and have come across some amazing bargains. Even if you can't wait for a sale, you can always find something you're looking for on Craig's list or now even Freecycle. We just found a video game system we had growing up, and got quite the deal. Sorry Steven and Caitlyn! We'll keep checking for you!

So it begs to ask the question, where did this all start? When did buying someone's junk become the latest fad? It certainly isn't because you feel that you will snatch up some priceless treasure someone didn't realize that they had. I think it's because deep down inside we're all still searching for something. Something that may fulfill a need, a want, a desire, or a hope for happiness. Yet in this search for a treasure among someone' junk, we find what we are looking for, the price is perfect or often times it can be negotiated to what we would love, a smile appears on our face when the deal is secured and off we go back to our car. It's truly a win/win for both buyer and seller.

Sometimes, we are searching for treasures that most don't see. It may be a cobalt blue glass vase that speaks to our heart because our grandparents may have had one and we are searching to find a way to reconnect to that memory or perhaps decorate a room with unique knick-knacks that tell a story. But someone along that way, genius was discovered. Someone who would turn useless stuff into a great treasure.

Much like what God does with us. He takes us at often times at our complete worse and smiles once He sees us sitting like junk on a shelf. He sees the value behind our facade, deep into our hearts. There is no price too great for Him to pay to purchase us. We are worth every single penny. No matter what condition God finds you in, He is satisfied with you just the way you are right this minute. No need to rush off to be refurbished or restored before He'll pick you up! Nope, He wants you just the way you are. God knew all along right where you'd be, He's never going to give up searching for you.

You are priceless in His eyes, always will be, no matter your condition. So stop worrying about being perfect. Be willing to turn yourself over to God right where you are at now. You will make His day and all of Heaven will stop and celebrate over your decision. The best part, is that you will never find yourself unworthy in His eyes ever again. We place the value on ourselves, but to God, you are the best thing He's ever discovered and created. We only have to believe it.

The best part is that it will completely change your life forever. If your willing, of course?

What do you have to lose?

If your tired of feeling less than perfect, looking for acceptance and unconditional love and want more out of your life than what you've been getting lately, invite Him into your heart. He stands at the door, are you willing to let Him in? What can it hurt?

Believe me, it will completely change your life for the better! Here's all you need to do:

1. Talk to God. You don't need anyone's help. Just stop where you are right now and ask God to change you. Tell Him how difficult your life has been up this point. Ask Him into your life.

2. Ask God to forgive you for failing to meet up to His expectations for your life. Believe He will change you and love you unconditionally. Believe He is the only one who can completely change you. Believe that He is the one true God and that He died for you to pay the price for all your sins, past, present and future. That He rose again on the third day and is now residing in Heaven, waiting for all of us to join Him.

3. Ask Him to show you the path for your life now. Open a Bible and begin reading what life is really about. I'd suggest start in the book of John. Read it like you were there and ask God to reveal Himself to you through His word.

Then believe, you are now a perfect child, a heir to the throne of God, a prince or princess that will live forever in a kingdom far perfect from the world we live in now, and that when this life ends, yours will not! You will dwell in a perfect place filled with streets of gold, and no more tears, death, fear or pain exists. Trust me, Heaven and Hell are very real places and there will be no partying in Hell, but there will be in Heaven. The choice is yours today! I hope you make this the best sale ever in your life!

How Would You Respond?

Most of you that read my blog posts either directly through blogspot, email or via Facebook are either moms or know of a mom to whom this would apply and would LOVE your feedback in the bottom comment box below once you finish reading this post.

Let me start off with a slight recap of just how this weekend went, after spending a week being a "single parent" since hubby has been traveling to San Francisco for a work related project. On the heels of being what I could call "Do it all for you Mommy!" I find myself, overly tired, cranky, and barely able to concentrate to figure out where does the milk go? Oh yeah, I forgot not the cupboard, but the refrigerator!

Who knows what I'll find when I go searching for something I may have inadvertently "put away" this week! Yet, I press on. But after the weekend arrived, something I so desperately wait for because it means some of my "required" work, like home schooling and taking the kids to their after school activities, I can get a break. But ha! That's where the humor comes in. I scheduled a hair appointment after receiving a gift certificate almost a month ago for my birthday and my oldest daughter asks me if I am excited to "get away" to get my hair done. I stared at her and I'm not even sure if I blinked or not and said, "No not really because at this point it feels like an item on my already too full "To Do List."

She smiled and attempted to explain her point further to me, " Well if it were me, I would so be enjoying all that pampering and couldn't wait to spend some time getting my hair done!"

I'm not sure I blinked again. Seriously??

This is from someone whose idea of being busy is an overly full social calendar and having to choose between which she would rather do, head to Disneyland mid week or attend a late night movie premiere with her boyfriend and cousin?

I don't think I need to explain as all the moms know where this is probably headed.

I'm not sure what to think of the generation that now lies before us. The one's who fail to see that living at home rent free, bill free and having most of your meals provided for you whenever you make it home. The one's who wonder just who left that towel on the living room floor but won't stop to pick it up because it wasn't them who left it there. Here's an example of our frustrated conversation over who left out a can of orange soda,(mind you, it's still cold, so it has to be someone who is still in the house currently!)

Me: Hey guys? Who's Orange soda is this on the kitchen counter?

Oldest Daughter: Which can? (There is only one can of soda on the counter, so I politely point to the exact item in question)

Me: That one!

Old Daughter: Not mine. (and walks away).

Me: (trying not to roll my eyes and not shout) Hey! Who's can of soda is this?

No answer but the other two teens in my house continue to ignore me and keep playing with their phones.

Me: (now physically picking up the can and walking the soda can over to them and ask again, trying not to raise my voice) Does this belong to any of you?

They all look at me, the soda can, shake their heads no and go back to playing their games on their phones.

This time I think the eye rolling works because I bump into the counter on my way back into the kitchen to dispose of the can of soda.

It appears to me that unless I specifically inform my household what I want done, it won't get done. No one will do laundry unless it's their own laundry. Towels remain on the bathroom floor and people come and go in my house at all hours of the day.

I find myself not needing to work out anymore because as I explained (not so nicely) to my hubby that I can stay so busy enough, picking stuff up and cleaning up after everyone that I don't have a minute of free time. I can literally clean one room walk away to work on something else and come back to a mess that "no one" made!

It is during this time I can tell, God's calling me to walk away. Head toward the hills and escape for some quiet time. The major signal for me that this time is coming is that I can't deal with two things happening at the same time, for example the television on and someone talking. It really grinds on my nerves the ones that I have left that is.

If I don't get away for some serious ALONE time, I will evidently break down and cry. This is a clear sign to me that Mom is empty and in need of replenishment. Today was no exception either, on the tail end of a rough weekend I wake up to find hubby's first initial flight out was cancelled and he had to rebook his flight out this morning. My oldest daughter and her boyfriend made plans to head to Big Bear to visit with his grandparents and I'm left home alone once again to handle the weight of running a busy household of 5 while hubby is gone. Calgon doesn't even offer an escape plan.

So while hubby is phoning me from a busy airport telling me his flight is delayed for 4 hours, the kids are running in and out of the shower before I even have a chance to get in, thus a cold shower for mom. At the end of proverbially rope this morning I find this in my devotional:

"The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. Then Jesus said, "Let's go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile." He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn't even have time to eat." ~ Mark 6:30-31

My question that was posed to me during my Faith Step was simply this, Imagine Jesus is saying to you: "Let's go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile." How will you respond?

My answer: Lead the way!!

I think the point is that as moms we have a tendency to commit to our own ministries of taking care of our families to the point we have nothing left to offer when we collapse in bed at midnight. We have to remember that while Jesus calls us to serve, he also calls us to rest. So don't feel guilty for taking a nap, a time out, a quiet moment to just be still and refresh and let God renew you and refill you to overflowing. What would that look like in your life?

I'd love to hear your answers and anxiously await the end of my busy day to rest and lay my head down and just listen to God sing me to sleep tonight.

Prays appreciated my dearest friends. Not to mention I found out that my hubby's aunt lapsed into a diabetic coma yesterday on top of our snow ball express!

Celebrating First Day of Spring 2012

Little did I remember when I awoke this morning besides being another beautiful Southern California sunny day, that it was the first official day of Spring for 2012. Spring is a great time of year because it shows us of God's plan for resurrection. Just when we think things are dead and asleep for the winter, spring comes along and reminds us that only God determines what is final. Spring provides renewal and hope despite what things may have looked like before, dismal, lost, unbelief, grief and even death.

Spring shows us that God will renew everything again, that there will come a time, when things look to be their absolute darkest and then God will turn the light on situations and reveal the beauty in it all. I thought I would share some of my pictures I captured today with you along with my favorite scriptures that I hope will inspire you and give you hope that this is just a temporary stop in life for believers. We are just passing through on our way to our eternal home. Heaven awaits!



"it will burst into bloom; it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy." ~ Isaiah 35:2a







“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ~ Matthew 6:28






I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.” ~ Psalm 77:12








"Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land." ~ Song of Solomon 2:12








"Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy." ~ Psalm 96:12








"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" ~ Matthew 6:26

Happy First Day of Spring 2012!